#blossom and sophie are both queens | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

archduchessofnowhere · 1 year

Text

Lost in contemplation of the beauty of the scene she had not at first noticed the steam-launch which was approaching, but the next moment she was beaming with pleasure. Francis was standing up in the boat in his fine hussar uniform. She knew him at once from his picture, and found him more attractive than she had expected to do.

She stepped forward to the gangway to meet him, and with the most natural womanly grace, held out her hand, saying: "Bounjour François!" He took both her hands in his, kissed her on the brow, and said timidly: "Bonjour Marie!" The Queen embraced the young bride, and presented the Princesses to her. Maria asked feelingly after the King's health, and expressed her regret that he was unable to be there to receive her. She then questioned her new relations about the coast lying before her, about the town they were approaching, about the ships in ther harbour, and about everything she saw from the vessel.

The bridegroom stood almost silent by his stepmother's side, finding only disconnected words to stammer in response. The agitation in which he found himself, the pleasant surprise of discovering Maria to be handsomer and more fascinating than he had dared to imagine, made him more shy and awkward than ever.

(...) The Queen conducted her to her rooms, and Nina Rizzo changed her travelling costume for a bridal robe, which was thrown over the large crinoline which all ladies were obliged to wear at that time, in accordance with the dictates of fashion. A wreath of orange-blossom and a veil of beautiful lace, which she had brought with her from her home, were fastened to her mass of hair — that characteristic of the Wittelsbach sisters. The bridal veil, falling in wide folds about her, reached almost to the ground. An altar had been erected in a large room of the palace used for festivities. Above the altar and along the walls were hung pictures of the Holy Virgin. A throne had also been constructed, and was covered with velvet and gold embroideries. Beside the throne were arm-chairs for the Princes and Princesses.

The bishops and most of the distinguished company had taken their places. The solemn function was about to begin. But many of those assembled had difficulty in restraining their laughter, and several smiled outright, although they tried all in their power to keep a countenance of decorum. The Crown Prince's second stepbrother, Alphonso, Count of Caserta, though at that time eighteen years of age, was as wild as a schoolboy in the holidays. He had managed to fasten a long train of paper to the uniform of one of the highest of the court functionaries. The courtier was in absolute ignorance of the Prince s schoolboy trick, and the air of importance with which he performed his duties added to the absurdity of the situation. In the end a gentleman succeeded in detaching the train without the victim having noticed it. The bride and bridegroom entered the apartment, and were conducted to their places before the altar. The bishop gave a forcible address in the flowery Italian language, concluding by calling down the blessing of God on the young couple. The Te Deum was sung, and the orchestra played the national anthem. The newly married couple then went to the King's bed-chamber to receive the paternal blessing. Salvos of artillery announced to the people that the marriage ceremony was at an end.

Tschudi, Clara (1905). Maria Sophia, Queen of Naples: A Continuation of “The Empress Elizabeth” (translation by Ethel Harriet Hearn)

ON THIS DAY, IN 1859, DUCHESS MARIE SOPHIE IN BAVARIA ARRIVED TO NAPLES AND MARRIED PRINCE FRANCESCO, DUKE OF CALABRIA IN PERSON. They'd had a proxy ceremony on January 8. Marie was the sixth child and third daughter of Duke Maximilian in Bavaria and his wife Princess Ludovika of Bavaria. Francesco was the only child of King Ferdinando II of the Two Sicilies and his first wife Princess Maria Cristina of Savoy.

Marie had left for Naples on January 13, but news of King Ferdinando's grave illness caused her to delay her journey and stay in Vienna with her sister the Empress Elisabeth of Austria. She was able to set forth again on the 30, accompanied by Elisabeth, and arrived in Trieste the next day, from where she finally sailed February 1 to Bari.

Ten years after getting married Marie and Francesco had their only child, Princess Maria Cristina of the Two Sicilies, who died aged three months old.

#disfunctional marriage (affectionate)#also every single artist that painted francesco's commitment to completely change his face is impressive #queen marie sophie of the two sicilies #francesco ii of the two sicilies #historian: clara tschudi #queen maria theresa of the two sicilies #prince alfonso count of caserta #maria sophia queen of naples: a continuation of ´the empress elizabeth´ (1905)#on this day in history

5 notes · View notes

spoilersandrambling · 2 years

Text

Okay so I watched ‘The School for Good and Evil’ and while my opinion might change, it… wasn’t that bad.

Mind you, I did read the book years ago so my memory is a little fuzzy, but they seem to have actually kept more or less to the themes. Is the book better? Yes. But after seeing the first five minutes of ‘Persuasion’, they could have done a lot worse.

Overall, it does give off the vibes of a very teen movie. The over the top colour contrasting, the music - it feels a little bit like ‘Isle of the Lost’ but with better budget.

Tedros is an idiot, but he was an idiot in the book too. (He’s honestly the reason I didn’t read the second book. I just could not put up with his stupidity.)

Sophie and Agatha’s relationship was drastically changed from the book. Instead of being a sly, selfish, manipulative narcissist, Sophie is legitimately a good friend to Agatha. Which I honestly really liked. It makes so much more sense (and sends a way more positive message) for Agatha to be working so hard to save Sophie with the background that we are shown in the movie. I loved Agatha’s character. She was amazing. Her two major drawbacks for me were her looks and the fact that she likes Tedros (though she does deal with it really well - loved the ‘but I can’t leave my friend’).

As to her looks… I’m sorry but “this is what a normal girl looks like”. Uhm, with clear skin and hair that is curly, voluminous and beautiful? No, honey, that is what normal girls wish we looked like. “Everyone told me I was ugly”. Why? Because of your perfect teeth? Yeah, I’m sorry, but I just could not take those lines seriously.

Sophie on the other hand looked way more like a normal girl. (Though both these actresses are really pretty). Despite her stepmother claiming she spends an hour to do her hair, it actually looks kind of frizzy and… normal.

She does absolutely blossom as the villain queen though. As over the top and ridiculous as it was, I loved her whole strut scene to ‘You should see me in a crown’. It was *chef’s kiss.

I loved the ending. I thought that Maleficient satisfied my need for true love’s kiss not being romantic, but actually no. I need this in at least a hundred more stories. It’s beautiful and I love it.

Also, Lady Lesso? Amazing. Of course, I am biased because of how well Charlize Theron played the Evil Queen in ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’. She gave the same sort of impression in this.

Honestly, the whole movie played so fully into the tropes of evil. You know that brash, slightly cartoonish but unhinged vibe that some villains just exude effortlessly? Yeah, that. Guess what? I’m a sucker for it.

The fight scenes were… something. Someone in editting had a lot of fun with the slo-mo and it shows. The fight at the beginning of the school year was just utterly ridiculous, but like I said, I despise Tedros and this gave me an excellent opportunity to make fun of him.

The fight at the Nevers ball was ridiculously long. However, by that time I had completely given up on this movie having even slightly believable violence and I just thought the music was cool. (Hester’s puffy purple dress was not. Seriously, what was that? Hort looked better in a skirt.)

The narration felt a little bit weird, but Cate Blanchett will for ever be one of my favourite narrator voices because of the opening of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ so I didn’t mind it that much.

Agatha’s attempt to save the failed students was lovely. I don’t have words. I just really, really liked it. (I also loved when she punched Tedros. Have I mentioned how much I dislike him?)

Okay, this ramble has now gotten almost as ridiculously long as the movie itself so I’ll end off with this: is it a brilliant masterpiece of film and cinema? No. But it’s a fun, escapist adventure.

#school for good and evil #ramble #my opinion can basically be summed up as x story element was ridiculous but I enjoyed it

4 notes · View notes

thevesselofthegoddess · 2 years

Text

I look at Sophie as she’s dying in my arms.

“Please, I can’t lose you yet!” I scream. “Its you. It’s gonna be you.” she breathes out weakly. “What are you talking about?” I say, while letting my tears fall freely.

“You’re gonna be the next vessel.”

In this game you will play as the mortal vessel of a goddess, chosen to guide your realm. But when one of the goddesses goes rougue, how will you make sure your realm survives?

Customize your mc

Customize your name + surname, your build, hair (+colour), skin colour and eye colour.

Choose your gender and sexuality

Play as male, female or as a non-binary person. You can be either gay, straight or bisexual. 2 of the 4 love interests genders change depending on your sexuality.

Romance four of the available love interests

There are in total 4 love interests, 2 of which genders change according to your sexuality, the other 2 are male and female.

Find out which goddess’ vessel you will become!

There are 3 goddesses whose vessel you can become, which one of them will pick you, is decided by the stats you accquire during your journey.

The Queen

Age: immortal

Gender: female

Personality: hard-working, distant, cold, driven

I walk up to the throne with shaky legs. The Queen looks down her nose at me and says, “So you must be our new vessel? Hmmm, not what I expected.”

With a cold and distant personality, the queen is not one for love or romance, but will you able to win her heart over?

Augustine vorne | the royal advisor

Age: 28

Gender: male

Peronality: clumsy, shy, hardworking, gentle

Augustine looks me up and down and says, “You’re the new vessel then? I hope you can be of help to the realm.”

Augustine doesn’t have his eye set on love, it doesn’t fit his career-driven mindset. But that all might change when a new vessel arrives at the palace.

Renee crisande | an old accquintance

Age: 26

Gender: Changes depending on your sexuality

Personality: laid-back, grumpy, snarky, flirty

As we’re walking towards the palace grounds I bump into them. “Well, well, look who we have here!” “Hello there, Renee” I say, forcing a smile. “Mind if i walk with you to the ceremony?” they say with a smirk.

With a flirty personality, Renee has never really thought about settling down, but when both of you are chosen as vessels, suddenly that’s all they can think about.

Annika/Anniko holfort | the childhood best friend

Age: 22

Gender: Changes depending on your sexuality

Personality: Bubbly, friendly, loyal, loving

Annika/Anniko smiles as they take my hand, “I cant believe we both got chosen as vessels! I’m so of proud us, but mostly of you.”

A gentle and kind soul, thats Annika/Anniko for you. You’ve been best friends since childhood, but that might blossom into something more when both of you are chosen as vessels.

Keep in mind that this game is still in early production, and it might not be released for another year.

The rating as for now is 13+, this might change in the future.

If you would like to support me/my work, you can do so on ko-fi/patreon.

You can follow this tumblr for future updates, and release dates of demos/the game.

#interactive story #interactive novel #interactive fiction #choice script #cscript #if wip #new wip #tVotG #the vessel of the goddess #choice of games #dashingdon #if game #announcement post #interactive game #itch.io

261 notes · View notes

royalpain16 · 2 years

Text

Has anyone else noticed the blossoming of Lady Louise? I'm here for it how about you...

Lady Louis Windsor, at Prince Philip's memorial, and in 2021

The Wessex family, which also includes Louise’s 11-year-old brother James, Viscount Severn, are said to be close to the Queen and her late husband Philip.

A royal insider said: “The Queen loves the fact that Louise and James relish their time at Balmoral, and she has become particularly close to Louise, who seems to have become her favourite grandchild, closely followed by James.

“Louise also endeared herself to everyone by looking after William and Kate’s children when they were up here.

LADY Louise Windsor, who has been touted as the Queen’s “favourite grandchild”, is the daughter of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

The young royal is said to have emerged as the Queen’s favourite following a lengthy stay at the monarch’s Scottish retreat, Balmoral, over the summer of 2019.

The Wessex family are said to be close to the Queen and her late husband Philip.

Who is Lady Louise Windsor?

Lady Louise, who is 14th 16th in line to the throne, is the daughter of the Queen's youngest child, Prince Edward, and his wife, Sophie Rhys-Jones.

The Wessex family, which also includes Louise’s 11-year-old brother James, Viscount Severn, are said to be close to the Queen and her late husband Philip.

“Louise also endeared herself to everyone by looking after William and Kate’s children when they were up here.

"Louise loves drawing and sketching and was very patiently trying to get Charlotte to do pictures of rabbits and deer.

"Because of her obvious artistic skill, the Queen allowed Louise to look through some of the collection of Queen Victoria’s Highlands sketches which are kept at Balmoral but are rarely dug out these days.”

Ingrid Seward previously told Fabulous Digital that the Queen likes "ordinary people more than she does those that pander to her".

Louise is 14th in line to the throne, behind her younger brother James, as they were both born before the 2013 Succession to the Crown Act, which officially ended the centuries-old rule that male offspring take precedence over females.

Lady Louise, who is 17, was born prematurely at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey and was delivered by emergency C-section.

She previously attended school in Windsor before moving to an Ascot school near to her parents' home, Bagshot Park.

Prince Edward, upon his wedding to Sophie Rhys-Jones, agreed with the Queen that their kids would be deemed as children of an Earl, instead of being called His or Her Royal Highness.

Princess Anne's children, Zara and Peter also don't have royal titles but Louise and James are the Queen’s first male-line descendants not to have one

#lady louise #queen Elizabeth II grandchildren #prince edward #countess sophie #the wessexes

45 notes · View notes

cordeliaflyte · 2 years

Note

Thoughts about Yellowjackets 🐝:

- Shauna and Jackie had a toxic codependent relationship. I always sensed some homoerotic vibe from them though. I honestly even thought Shauna was in love with Jackie until the scene where she fucked Jeff. Lmao. 😂 Even after that, always thought there’s something gay brewing in there. 😂 Ella Purnell even thought so because she said in an interview that she loves how she and Sophie Nélisse gave off gay vibes. 😂

- Lottie and Laura Lee also gave off homoerotic vibes. That ship sunk before it can sail though. RIP. 😂 But seriously, the potential for drama between them. Laura Lee is ultra religious so the internalized homophobia would be so bad. Lottie is off her meds and mentally ill and then you add some gay awakening? Chaos. 😂 Anyway, Jane Widdop said in an interview that they don’t think Laura Lee was a homophohe because they were asked if Laura Lee would have judged Van and Taissa when they came out if Laura Lee was still alive. Queen behavior. Wasn’t even aware Jane is nonbinary and grew up catholic so I’m guessing they related it to Laura Lee in an extent.

- Travis and Natalie are so toxic from the get go. I was never really that interested with them together though. I find them boring. Kevin Alves and Sophie Thatcher don’t have much chemistry together. In fact, Kevin had more chemistry with Ella.

- Misty Quigley is the champ. Definitely my fave. I love them psycho. 🤗 Kind of a bummer that we didn’t see her potential friendship with Jackie to blossom. Jackie, unfortunately, became a popsicle before it can happen. RIP. 😔 Misty also seems to have a soft spot for Natalie in particular in the present day so I’m curious what brought that on considering they didn’t have much interaction in the wilderness so far.

🐝 buzz buzz buzz 🐝

Actually if you think about it Shauna fucked Jeff because she was in love with Jackie. Like if you can't fuck someone the closest way to get to it is fucking someone they fucked. I fully believe Shauna still loves Jackie more than she loves Jeff after all these years.

I know it's a popular theory but I personally don't see Lottie/Laura Lee. Laura Lee was an anchor to this simple black and white morality that kept her worldview safe in her All-American home, and I think she realised it wasn't tenable in the wilderness, but still tried to cling on the rules she was always taught would apply even if her reality was shattered.

I feel like there's a stark difference between her and Lottie in that they both feel isolated, but Laura Lee doesn't push her religion - reminiscent of their old environment, but historically relatively new (evangelicalism) on others too forcefully, but will accept potential converts - like Lottie - when they come to her (which is very at odds with evangelicalism but oh well).

Lottie, who has been isolated, seeks glory for herself through the conduit of a religion that is starkly new to all the characters, but is implied to be, in some ways "primordial" - this is something that has been brewing here for a long time, a Venus flytrap that has enticed its victims since at least the old French Canadian guy.

I wonder whether they'll explore the colonial implications - like, I sincerely hope they don't go "oh yeah wacky indigenous religion". I think it's interesting that when Lottie gets possessed, she speaks the words about spilling blood in French - the language of the (implicitly colonial) dead guy in the cabin.

I wasn't really invested in Natalie/Travis because umm in the nicest way the men in this show do not matter very much. Travis will be the lost Lenore motivating Natalie and I'm fine with that.

I think they're anchors to each other because (so far) they're some of the very few people who haven't succumbed to Lottie's influence, and Travis was explicitly made a victim of their new culty ways. I want to know who killed him and especially what Nat was right about. Like couldn't you have been less shadowy in your cryptic note... Also since men don't matter they are DEFINITELY killing coach next since he's another "anchor" to the old world

Misty is great I love her ❣️ full disclosure before watching the TV show and based on gif sets on here I thought they were in love. I have not abandoned the idea of Misty being in love with Natalie yet. There's so much I want to know about Misty... I don't think she's invested in the cult anymore. But I do think she could be a serial killer. Just for a laff

🐝🐝🐝

#answered #yellowjackets

17 notes · View notes

voguefashion · 3 years

Photo

British Royal Weddings - Part 2

Princess Anne and Timothy Laurence, 12 December 1992.

For her second marriage, to Timothy Laurence, Anne kept her outfit very low key and chose a cream suit with a high necked jacket over a knee length dress. Her only accessories were a small spray of blossoms worn in her hair and a simple bouquet of white heather.

Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones, 19 June 1999.

The wedding dress of Sophie Rhys-Jones was designed by Samantha Shaw, is made of hand-dyed silk organza and hand-dyed silk crepe. It is full-length, with long sleeves and the detail consists of rows of pearls and crystal beading around the neck, sleeves and train, with further beading down the back and front of the dress-coat. 325,000 cut-glass and pearl beads are sewn on the dress, which is corseted, with a V-neck. The full-length veil is one inch longer than the train. It is made of hand-dyed silk tulle, and hand-finished with spotted crystal detail. The train is long, and the bride carried a bouquet of ivory roses.

To accompany the dress, the bride also wore a black-and-white pearl necklace, interspersed with white gold rondels, and a matching pair of black-and-white pearl drop earrings, designed by Prince Edward and made by Asprey and Garrard as a wedding gift from Edward. Sophie wore a diamond tiara, from the Queen's private collection, consisting of three open-work scroll motifs, designed and re-modelled by the Crown Jeweller, David Thomas, at Asprey and Garrard. Her shoes were three-inch heel court shoes made of silk crepe by Gina.

Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles, 9 April 2005.

Camilla Parker Bowles's wedding dress was a cream silk chiffon dress hemmed with vertical rows of Swiss-made appliqued woven disks, and a matching oyster silk basket weave coat. She completed the outfit with pale beige suede shoes with almond-colored toes designed by L. K. Bennett, a Philip Treacy wide-brimmed cream-coloured straw hat overlaid with ivory French lace and feathers, and a purse made from embossed calf leather with a half flap closing and suede lining, from Launer's "East/West" collection. Work on the outfit began on 21 February 2005, and the final fitting was made on 5 April.

For the blessing afterwards, she wore a floor-length embroidered pale blue and gold coat over a matching chiffon dress and a dramatic spray of golden feathers in her hair. Both ensembles were by Antonia Robinson and Anna Valentine, London designers who worked under the name Robinson Valentine, now solely called Anna Valentine. They reportedly wanted a "crisp clean look with subtle detailing" for the dress.

Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly, 17 May 2008.

Kelly wore an ivory duchess satin dress by Sassi Holford, estimated to have cost £2,000. She completed her outfit for the wedding with a cathedral train, a lace bolero to adorn her shoulders and a beautiful tiara, which was loaned to her by her mother-in-law, Princess Anne. The necklace and earrings were given to her by her groom as a wedding gift

Prince William and Catherine Middleton, 29 April 2011.

English designer Sarah Burton, creative director of the luxury fashion house Alexander McQueen, designed the bridal gown. Noted for its design, symbolism, and expected influence on Western bridal gown trends. Official statements noted that Middleton wished to combine tradition and modernity, "with the artistic vision that characterizes Alexander McQueen's work." She and Burton worked closely together in formulating the dress design.

The ivory satin bodice was padded slightly at the hips and narrowed at the waist, and was inspired by the Victorian tradition of corsetry that is a particular Alexander McQueen hallmark. The bodice incorporated floral motifs cut from machine-made lace, which were then appliquéd on to silk net (tulle) by workers from the Royal School of Needlework, based at Hampton Court Palace. On the back were 58 buttons of gazar and organza, which fasten by means of rouleau loops. The skirt, underskirt trim and bridal train (which measured 270 cm—110in) also incorporated lace appliquéd in a similar manner. The main body of the dress was made in ivory and white satin gazar, using UK fabrics which had been specially sourced by Sarah Burton, with a long, full skirt designed to echo an opening flower, with soft pleats which unfolded to the floor, forming a Victorian-style semi-bustle at the back, and finishing in a short train measuring just under three metres in length. To partially fulfill the 'something blue' portion of the British wedding tradition, a blue ribbon was sewn inside the dress. The design for the bodice of the dress featuring lace in the style of the 19th century was the 'something old'.

35 notes · View notes

ireadyabooks · 3 years

Text

Positive Reads to Lift Your Spirits

If you’re looking for reads to help you feel like summer sunshine incarnate, here’s a roundup of books that can’t help but make you smile! 🥰

HEARTSTOPPER by Alice Oseman

The Heartstopper series is what you reach for when all you want is a hug, a cozy drink, and to feel like everything will be okay. The graphic novels tell an incredibly charming story about two boys learning what love is all about. Be sure to check out the first installment before season one drops on Netflix! Start reading Heartstopper!

YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN by Leah Johnson

This debut from rising star, Leah Johnson, passes the good vibes check. Not only was it a Reese's Book Club YA Pick, but a Stonewall Honor Book! Read all about Liz Lightly’s quest to be crowned prom queen...as she falls for her competition. If you want to see more from this author, be sure to check out RISE TO THE SUN. Start reading both books!

K-POP CONFIDENTIAL by Stephan Lee

After reading this book, Becky Albertalli, bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, said, “I'm still giddy over this electrifying, big-hearted, all-kill smash of a debut. I couldn't put it down.” It’s a fun, romantic, and daydream-worthy tale about a Korean-American girl traveling to Seoul to enter a K-pop trainee program. Start reading K-Pop Confidential!

SIMONE BREAKS ALL THE RULES by Debbie Rigaud

Perfect for fans of To All the Boys I've Loved Before and Counting Down with You! Simone Thibodeaux has a plan to make the most of her senior year. With her friends and a bucket list in hand, what can go wrong? Start reading Simone Breaks All the Rules!

IN THE SAME BOAT by Holly Green

This 3-day, 265-mile canoe race is all adventure, heart-stopping action, and a swoony friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance that will leave you cheering! With these determined characters and this immersive setting, Green’s debut is sure to get you jumping for joy. Start reading In the Same Boat!

MAYBE THIS TIME by Kasie West

Kasie West brings a fresh twist on the classic movie, Four Weddings and a Funeral. Sophie Evans works for the local florist and coincidentally finds out that love can blossom in unexpected places. This book is the perfect reminder to stop and smell the roses. Start reading Maybe This Time!

#I read YA #blog #books to lift your spirits #feel good #feel good books #positivity #positive thinking

19 notes · View notes

lets-go-steal-a-hitter · 3 years

Text

Y'know what I've been thinking about this for literally three straight weeks so. Here's a post describing what colors I associate with each member of the Leverage crew that no one asked for. I'm a poet by trade, in case you didn't know.

Nate: amber. the color of a fine whiskey, rich and warm and dark. with a twist of deep burgundy, like a drop of blood. where the old-fashioned luxury of velvet and dark wood and cigar smoke meets the sharp edge of doing what needs to be done, no matter how much you bleed for it afterwards.

Sophie: royal purple. the color they used to save for kings and queens. with glimmers of silver embroidered throughout, like faint stars on a sunset sky.

Hardison: bright, digital-neon green. and a similarly neon blue. brilliant and bold, like LED lights. a gamer's mouse and keyboard glowing in an otherwise darkened room.

Parker: a streak of orange-yellow, like a candle flame, in a sea of blacks and greys. a thief in the night and also a bright spot in the gloom. fire glinting on priceless jewels.

Eliot: both crimson red and sunlit-ocean blue, like his eyes. the boundary where tranquility and violence meet. they stay separate - touching, but never blending - except in certain spots, where they clash and blossom into purple bruises. romance, passion, bloodshed; and also tranquility, gentleness, loyalty. at the same time fierce and forgiving.

#leverage #analysis #meta #leverage meta #but in a very poetic way #colors #nate ford #sophie devereaux #alec hardison #parker #parker leverage #eliot spencer

77 notes · View notes

dcbbw · 4 years

Text

Sneak Peek Sunday (8-23-2020)

I know for certain I was tagged by @sophie-and-shizuku, and I think I may have been tagged by @bebepac. Honestly, I have not had a lot of time to work on anything because of work obligations but I do have a fic ready to post and a handful of almost-there WIPs; fics that if I just sat down and added one more section, or did a final read-through on, I could post.

For Sneak Peek Sunday, I present to you my They’re Almost Ready list.

Boomerang (Un-Romance AU):

Maxwell.

I wonder what he is doing here. Then I hear his voice carry over my partition.

“Hey, Reebee,” he says, using his nickname for me.

“Max!” I say a little too loudly and a lot too cheerfully.

He steps to my ‘doorway’. “I come bearing treats,” he announces as he holds out a brown paper bag in one hand and my pink drink in the other.

I tell him to come in, and he plops in the guest chair before handing me my drink and cookies. I place them on my desk and roll my chair around so I’m facing him. I eye him appraisingly: Maxwell looks good. He’s still slim with a head full of gelled hair; his face is still handsome in an odd way. Maxwell is the type that is always animated: eyes flashing and sparkling, a permanent half smile lifting one corner of his mouth, hands moving.

A man in motion.

Right now, his leg is jiggling while his fingers tap and dance against his pant-covered thigh.

“What brings you here?” I ask curiously.

“I dropped Pen off this morning and walking her to the elevator, we ran into Lynn going on a coffee run.”

I freeze momentarily. Maxwell dropped Penelope off? “You and Pen?” I ask in what I hope is a casual tone.

He nods happily. “I ran into her at a pet shelter a couple of weekends ago. We talked some, grabbed some lunch, and we’ve been … hanging out ever since.”

“He was looking for a peacock!” Penelope offered helpfully from her cubicle.

I nod slowly. “Hanging out,” I repeat.

Max’s eyes grow wide as he takes in my expression. “It’s not like that.”

We stare at each other. The yet is unspoken.

Ghosts (Damien/Kai/Hayden ):

We were eating dinner in the living room. America’s Most Eligible was on, and for whatever reason, Kai and Hayden absolutely love that show. There were shrieks of laughter and finger pointing at the television set while I watched them absently, barely tasting my dinner.

Hayden noticed my lack of scoffing and reprimand and looked at me quizzically. “Are you okay, love?”

Kai put down her forkful of food to look at me through narrowed eyes. “Does this have to do with that client? What’s the job, Damien?”

She is neither suspicious nor jealous, just protective. Kai doesn’t love deeply or passionately; she loves fiercely.

I sip some cold beer. “I don’t know the job yet. I have to meet with them to find out.”

They both look at me skeptically. I shrug. “I just … I don’t know. I feel disconnected and I don’t know why.”

Except I do. I’m lying to the two most important people in my life, after mom and siblings, because of a man who left me three years ago. Over a phone call. I didn’t hear from him when I was heartbroken. I didn’t hear from him when robot assassins and a crazy man were trying to kill me and my friends.

No, he waits until I’m happy again to call. And I answered.

Love in a Time of Betrayal:

The light in the room was muted as the late afternoon sun filtered in through the closed window blinds. The heavy damask curtains were pulled open, tied back with cords of silk rope. They reminded her of an opera box.

Her hands ran down the front of his shirt, frantically pulling buttons through their holes; the diamond on her finger sparkled in the muted light of the room. The fabric was soft beneath her fingertips. Silk? Often washed cotton? It didn’t matter as she pulled the shirt from his broad shoulders. He let out a low laugh at her eagerness, his hair falling across his forehead in an endearing way.

She couldn’t wait to run her fingers through it.

The man pulled her closer to his bare chest, his short curly hairs matted to his skin. She breathed him in: pinecones, green grass, cognac. A hint of leather. Her lips found the crook of his neck and placed a kiss on his collarbone. He responded by planting a kiss in her hair.

They were star-crossed lovers, their hearts and their fates always at odds. The very Universe telling them constantly that they were not to be together, yet their bodies spoke differently.

Their love spoke differently.

She wondered if what they shared was lust or love, and always decided love. Lust could be sated, but her feelings for him never were.

He knew he loved her, with every fiber of his being. But he saw the signs: every chance they had at happiness was snatched away; sometimes cruelly, sometimes subtly. Either way, the pain was the same:

Deep. Hurtful. So intense not even the sweet release of death would alleviate it.

But here they were again, under the most trying of circumstances, attempting to right their world the only way they knew how.

The Queen’s Friendship:

The woman and Veronica were sitting in a dive bar, eating burgers and drinking beers. It had been five years since high school graduation, and their group of friends had disbanded:

Brenda’s mother had died soon after graduation, and she and her siblings had sold the house and divided the money. Brenda moved to Richmond, VA and had gotten a job with the state government. She was expecting her first child any day.

James had gotten a football scholarship from Auburn University. He played well, but not well enough to be noticed by the NFL. He was working as an accountant in Birmingham.

Michael D. had joined the Army.

Michael B. had moved to DC to attend Howard University and was applying to the police academy.

Shirley was in nursing school, and roommates with Rosalind, who was now a cosmetologist.

Ryan had gotten a degree in Physical Education Teaching and Coaching. He had always liked sports, but not playing them. He was waiting to hear back from the school board about a coaching position.

Veronica had gotten her meeting planning certification and was now looking to get into real estate.

The woman had her degree in Office Administration, along with the rest of the world. She had applied to several places but had yet to hear back.

Veronica dipped her French fry in ketchup as she studied the woman’s face. “I need you to be there! We’ve been friends forever and I want you to be my maid of honor!”

“You and Ryan are getting married?” The woman repeated her friend’s earlier statement, feeling foolish. Why, she wasn’t sure.

Veronica leaned back, tapping her nail against her chin. “I thought you were over Ryan?”

“I am! I am!” the woman hurriedly reassured her lifelong friend. “I just … wow, life is moving fast.”

Veronica nodded as she sat up straight. “It is, but it’s right, ya know?”

The woman nodded, but she didn’t know. She didn’t know how right felt. The two friends finished their meal, and on their way out, the woman saw a sign hanging on the wall: Now hiring waitresses, all shifts.

How I Met Your Wife:

The Duchess stopped fussing long enough to allow Yu to greet her deferentially; Riley smiled at the pretty, slim waitress and asked if there were a more private dining area she and her friends could enjoy their lunch. Yu arched an eyebrow; already the waitress held resentment against the Duchess. Of course she would want to lord her power and position over everyone else.

With a grunt, Yu led them to the private dining area reserved for large and/or private parties. Once the group was seated, Riley grasped Yu’s hand. “Thank you so much for accommodating my request. My appreciation will be reflected in your gratuity.”

Yu looked at the Duchess with a touch of incredulity before saying, “It’s the least I can do given that the King is offering the orchard workers some relief. I have family members who are affected.”

Riley looked at the waitress with concerned eyes before rummaging in her purse. “What are their names?”

Yu gave her the names before leaving the table with menus. She didn’t expect anything to come of it, but at least the new Duchess gave good lip service. She returned with the tea service in time to hear the Duchess on her phone arguing with someone who had to be the King.

“NO, you CANNOT return to the manor, Liam! And NO ONE is coming to the Palace! How in the HELL are you going to suggest WE use the SAME BAKER you and Madeleine were going to use?”

Silence as the Duchess listened to whatever the King was saying.

“I DO NOT CARE THAT THEY ARE THE ROYAL BAKERS! DO I LOOK ROYAL TO YOU?”

Yu hung back, not sure what to do. Riley smiled, and waved her over. “I am going to find a local Valtorian baker for the cake.” Brief silence. “IT ISN’T OUR WEDDING CAKE! I have three people, possibly four, with me RIGHT NOW who would LOVE to be the Duke of Valtoria! Don’t worry about who they are!’

More silence, then the Duchess hung up the phone. She looked at Yu. “The King will be joining us. Please send him here when he arrives.”

Coronation:

I run my hand through my hair while keeping the other on the steering wheel. The car is quiet, too quiet. I turn on the radio and a melancholy song fills the sedan.

And I bruise when you leave the room I never liked the way it felt Keepin' my hands to myself, mmm

Like some magic moment of which I'm not quite sure I wonder if you've ever been in love like this before You'll be scared when I possess you But you'll want me all the more

The music doesn’t help because my brain is filled with questions and images. There’s not enough room for the music and I impatiently turn the radio off. My phone rings; my hand fumbles on the passenger seat and I pull my eyes from the nearly empty road long enough to see it’s Beaumont calling and press the speaker button to answer.

“Yeah?” I growl as I check the speedometer and press a little harder on the gas pedal.

“Drake! We got Little Blossom! She’s going to stay!” he babbles excitedly in my ear.

I am quiet for a moment before I respond. “That’s great. Liam will be happy to hear it.” I don’t bother to ask Maxwell why he convinced Brooks to stay.

Liam made a choice. It wasn’t her.

“I thought you’d be more excited,” Maxwell says with some confusion in his voice.

“Olivia showed up at the Coronation, talked to Liam, and left. Then the pictures of Brooks came out. Wondering if there’s a connection.”

“You think Liv sent the pictures?”

I roll my eyes in annoyance. I try to keep the irritation out of my response. “No, Beaumont. I’m wondering if whoever did this to Brooks is behind Liv’s leaving.”

Desperate Measures:

Blinking back tears, Bertrand glanced at his watch. He raised an eyebrow as he realized it was almost time for his visitors. They were coming to meet with the stoic, confident Duke of Ramsford, not some maudlin, lovesick fool whose bank account was dangerously close to being overdrawn.

He pulled his papers together in neat stack and centered them precisely in the middle of the desk. He opened a drawer, and retrieved his lint brush, rolling it in brisk strokes over his suit jacket and sweater vest. Before leaving the study, he reached in a candy dish; he plucked a breath mint, which he popped in his mouth.

The Duke strode down the hall, ignoring the paintings and photos that lined the walls. He needed to check on lunch; the cook had been with the Beaumont family for decades; she still came in twice a week to do the grocery shopping and prepare dinner for the Duke and Lord. The rest of the staff had been let go; Bertrand could not afford to pay them, and people needed to make a living.

Bertrand trusted the chef implicitly, and normally wouldn’t micromanage, but today was important.

This meeting could put House Beaumont back on the road to riches.

Crown Prince Liam’s social season was starting in two days’ time; Maxwell had accompanied the Prince and some friends to New York City. Bertrand had tasked him with finding a wealthy American socialite who may be willing to sponsor herself in the season. It was a long shot, but Bertrand was desperate. Nothing seemed too farfetched at this point.

House Beaumont could not afford to sponsor anyone; however, every house who entered a suitor received a stipend to cover expenses such as clothing, food, and transportation. The House with the winning suitor received press coverage and a check to be split with the suitor.

Bertrand needed a winning suitor.

But the noblewomen of Cordonia did not need House Beaumont; they had their own houses, and no need to come out of pocket. However, there was one suitor who was entering the season who came from a minor noble house. A suitor whose name was unknown despite her mother having strong ties to Cordonia.

A suitor who had money, and lots of it.

Lady Hana Lee of Shanghai.

What are you working on @ao719 @bobasheebaby @katedrakeohd @glaimtruelovealways @burnsoslow @thecordoniandiaries @bbrandy2002

#sneak peek #on a sunday #long post #dcbbw writes #a lotta wips

41 notes · View notes

thevalencianroyals · 4 years

Text

Crown Prince Philip and Sophie Arnault Exclusive Engagement Interview

Soon after they announced their engagement, the young couple spoke publicly about their relationship for the very first time. They sat down for a very candid joint interview with reporter Maxwell Burns; the full interview aired on VBC and was watched by millions.

Maxwell Burns: How did you propose?

Prince Philip: It wasn’t a massive surprise for her, I’m sure. We obviously talked about it for a while, and after the official protocols were put in place, we shared a private moment together.

Sophie Arnault: Philip and I spent the weekend at his residence, after not seeing each other for days. He made me a romantic dinner and took that opportunity to ask me to marry him.

MB: How long were you planning it?

PP: I had been planning it for a while, and I knew that I wanted to marry her early on, but it was always hard to find the perfect time.

MB: And the ring-- How bold of you to choose such a precious and some might say priceless piece.

PP: She deserves nothing less.

SA: It’s very romantic, I admit, but also quite a lot of pressure to hold onto something that means so much. Some days I’m scared to wear it.

*Maxwell and Sophie laugh*

MB: You both look happy and relaxed.

SA: We’re actually really excited, but I suppose it's our nature to internalize these kinds of things.

MB: What did your parents’ say?

PP: Well, I asked her father afterwards just in case he’d say no, but he was so supportive of us and was very happy to have me.

MB: And the Queen?

PP: I often tell people that before I called her ‘Your Majesty’, I called her ‘Mum’. And as a mother, she only wants what’s best for her children, and knowing that Sophie makes me happy, she obviously approved.

MB: One thing that’s been clear, Sophie, is that you are a very successful and accomplished woman. Are ready to give it all up to become the wife of the future king?

SA: I don’t think I’ll be giving up my success or accomplishments: it’s a part of who I am. Now begins a new chapter in my life and marrying Philip is a not something I take lightly, but I like a challenge... I am excited for the future and to start our our little family .

MB: Speaking of little families, I think it’s safe to assume you want children, perhaps in the near future; did you have a number in mind?

SA: Well, I am very excited to be a mother--

PP: But I think we’ll have to take it one step at a time, for sure.

MB: When did you first set eyes on each other?

PP: Having been in the same friend circle, we knew of each other and we were friendly but it never went beyond that. We were first together at Camilla’s wedding-- she had set us up to accompany each other as a blind date, and we just had an instant connection. Our relationship sort of… blossomed from there.

MB: Sophie, you said that he cooked for you. Is he a good cook?

SA: He could use some lessons

*Philip and Sophie laugh*

PP: When I was trying to impress her, I would attempt to make these extravagant dishes, but it would just end with me on the sidelines while she cleaned up my mess.

*Philip, Sophie and Maxwell laugh*

MB: As you know, Your Royal Highness, your tumultuous entanglement with Lady Arabella Wellington ended just months ago. Tabloids and papers everywhere wrote about the drama, saying that you had started a new relationship too soon after your previous long term, serious commitment. What do you have to say about that?

PP: First, I don’t think anyone should believe everything they read in the papers. Whatever dalliances I had, I was very young and still finding myself. I can’t excuse a problematic relationship just because I knew that person when I was younger-- people grow up and they learn. And as luck would have it, I found Sophie at just the right time.

MB: In terms of building your relationship, did you always have in mind that you would be married? With your swift courtship, many assume that this is some arrangement.

PP: When I first met her, I knew there was something very special about her. And, you know, every relationship goes through hardships, even more so for us being the public eye, but after that awkward period of getting to know each other, being with her had just become really easy.

MB: Then I suppose you could call what you have true love?

PP: You could, if you believe in that sort of thing.

*Philip chuckles*

MB: Sophie, do you feel particularly intimated by the royal family?

SA: Honestly, who wouldn’t be! They are truly inspirational and I am just honored to be welcomed into the fold.

MB: When’s the wedding?

SA: There’s a lot of planning that needs to be done, but it’ll no doubt be the autumn season, at the Winchester Cathedral.

PP: We chose the Winchester Cathedral because it is where the great Queen Victoria was crowned, and it’s where my parents’ were married.

MB: This is a massive thing you’re going into. Are you excited, terrified, nervous-

SA: I wouldn’t say terrified, but a good amount of nerves are present. Like you said, Maxwell, this is very much a massive commitment.

MB: Well, thank you both, and congratulations.

PP & SA: Thank you.

(Special thanks to @threethousandplumbobs for her incredible poses I used for the interview and the upcoming engagement photoshoot-- your creations bring my story to life ❤️)

28 notes · View notes

archduchessofnowhere · 2 years

Note

Hello. What do you know about the marriage Ferdinand, Duke of Alençon and Sophie Charlotte. Thank you.

Hello! Sorry it took me so long, I was taking a break from this blog since I've been busy with college (the post on Sophie's death anniversary was qued months ago), and then I got sick (F). But I feel much better now so let's talk about Sophie's marriage!

But first I'll start with the source though. The best source of information about Sophie is Christian Sepp's biography "Sophie Charlotte: Sisis leidenschaftliche Schwester", which is only available in German (and I think there's a Hungarian translation coming up soon). I haven't read it yet but it seems to me the most complete book written about her like, ever. Probably he goes into more detail about her engagement and marriage, so if you can get it you should check it out. I used to answer this mainly an Italian translation of Erika Bestenreiner's book Sisi und ihre Geschwister (of which I only read the chapters on Sophie), which I double crossed with some online articles about Sophie that Christian Sepp wrote. So I'm probably missing some details; I hope I can learn more and write about it in the future. Now without further delay, let's continue on the subject.

After the fiasco of her engagement with Ludwig II (truly a terrible moment for both of them tbh), Sophie was pretty heartbroken. For all the portrayals in media of Helene as the "rejected bride", Sophie was the one that actually got publicly rejected and humilliated. Her family was furious at Ludwig, even Elisabeth. But after the scandal passed, it was time to find her a match again.

All the sources I've read (aka Bestenreiner's chapters about Sophie and some other articles) point to Ludovika as the responsible for setting her up with Ferdinand, Duke of Alençon, who was a grandson of the last King of the French Louis Philippe. On him we have this quote from Bestenreiner's book: "Baroness von Redwitz described him as a man of chivalrous bearing, 'with a carefully studied hairstyle and polite manners', whose fluent French was listened to with delight. She added, most eloquently, that he possessed more the qualities of a saint than of a husband".

They met at the court of Dresde, where Sophie was visisiting her relatives from Saxony (the queen Amalie was her aunt), and they both left a good impression on each other. Sophie and Ferdinand got engaged on June 24 of 1868 and married three months later on September 28 at Possenhofen. There is an account of the wedding from one of the guests, the Prime Minister of Bavaria Prince Hohenlohe-Schilling:

The young Duke of Alençon is described by the prince as a 'handsome young man with a lively air. The bride was dressed in white silk with orange blossom trimmings and a hairstyle of orange blossom and tulle. The couple knelt in front of the altar, behind them on the left-hand side Prince Adalbert (best man), behind him the two ministers (the second best man Pfretzschner and myself) and then, behind us, the men of the House of Orleans. On the other side, the Duke of Nemours, the Duchess and all the princesses… Nobody was crying… The bride seemed imperturbable. Before the "yes", the groom congratulated his father and the bride, then her parents. The bride's "yes" seemed to say: "It's all right with me". But I don't want to say anything bad, it just seemed that way to me. After the wedding, I kissed the duchess' hand and wished her well. She seemed really happy and content"

Off to a great start, right?

The Duke and Duchess moved to London (the Orléans had been living in exile on England since King Louis Philippe abdicated in 1848), where they were quite bussy receiving guests. However, soon after Sophie fell into a deep melancholy, and no one could figure out why she didn't feel better, not even after her first daughter's birth a year later on July. Although we can't diagnose her for sure, it seems likely she suffered from depression. The couple moved to Sicily with the hopes she would recover, and she actually did got better; but they have to depart abruptly because it was akward for the Savoyards that members of a branch of the House of Bourbon were staying in the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, which was ruled by the Bourbons until the kingdom was annexed to Italy in 1861. So Sophie's brother-in-law, the exiled King Francesco II of the Two Sicilies, invited them to stay over at Rome, and they agreed. Bestenreiner doesn't mention anything more on there time at Rome (although she does goes on a weird tangent about how the Wittelsbach sisters were depressed because they had too much free time??? That's not how mental illness works Erika), so I can't say anything else (if I find more I'll share it).

I ended up digressing a bit, but from what I could gather this marriage wasn't a love match, but a union between two people deemed adequate for each other (spoiler: they weren't).

#sophie in bavaria duchesse d'alençon #ferdinand d'orléans duke of alençon #historian: erika bestenreiner #aks

10 notes · View notes

randomestfandoms-ocs · 4 years

Text

Descendants Masterlist

Name: Anissa Radcliffe

Story: Ties That Bind

Parents: Roger & Anita Radcliffe

Faceclaim: Maia Mitchell

Name: Arden

Story: A Change Of Fate

Parents: Merida

Faceclaim: Adelaide Kane

Name: Avalon Le Fay

Story: King and Lionheart

AO3 | FFNet | Wattpad

Parents: Merlin & Morgana Le Fay

Face claim: Emma Dumont

Love interest: Jay; eventual Jay & Harry

Summary: Nimue, daughter of Arthur and Gwen, and Avalon Le Fay, daughter or Merlin and Morgana, had always been thick as thieves, and had always been ready to declare war on Auradon. Ever since the formation of the Isle, King Adam and the Fairy Godmother had been insisting that Morgana was still a villain, and therefore belonged on the Isle, and once Avalon was born, she agreed–so long as her daughter could stay in Camelot. When Arthur was killed barely a year later, Merlin and Gwen partnered up to raise their daughters and run a kingdom, until the girls would be old enough to do so themselves. Of course Auradon never trusted the one kingdom that refused to unite, and insisted that the girls be sent to Auradon prep, and so they went–reluctant as could be. Everything was fine, mostly–the other princesses looked down on Nimue’s love of swordfighting, and Avalon was never seen as anything but a villain kid, but they still had each other. They could tolerate it all, biding their time. But at sixteen years of age, everything they’d ever planned gets thrown for a loop when it’s declared that four children from the Isle would be moving to Auradon.

Collab with @seaweedhufflepuffocs

Name: Beatrice

Story: Ever Just As Sure (As The Sun Will Rise)

Parents: The Beast & The Enchantress

Faceclaim: Willa Fitzgerald

Summary: If King Adam had known the price of banishing magic from Auradon, he might have reconsidered. But the former Beast was a stubborn man who refused to heed any warnings, and it had backfired. He hadn’t known that banishing all magic would rip the last remains of the Enchantress’ curse from his veins, hadn’t known that the magic would redirect itself into the Enchantress, and he certainly hadn’t known that it would lead to the immediate birth of his firstborn child. But it had. And while he had no qualms about sending the Enchantress to the Isle, the queen had refused to send her stepdaughter, and so Princess Beatrice had been raised in Auradon alongside her younger brother. She knew the truth about her birth, and she knew that her father hated her with every fibre of his being, but she didn’t care. What she did care about was Ben’s decision to bring children from the Isle to Auradon - children that could have been her, had Belle not stepped in - and proving to her father, once and for all, that her generation is something more than just the children of heroes and villains, that they can be their own people and make their own choices. And maybe the children of the four baddest villains are the perfect people to help her with that plan.

Name: Blossom

Story: Faith, Trust (And A Little Pixie Dust)

Parents: N/A

Faceclaim: Sophie Turner

Love Interest: Ben

Summary: When a new baby laughs for the first time a new fairy is born. When Prince Benjamin Florian laughed for the first time, Blossom was born. From that day forth, the prince and his “fairy godsister” were inseparable. The citizens of Auradon always joked that their rulers had given them both a prince and a princess when Ben was born, and Blossom was beloved by the kingdom. But when her prince brings four villain children to Auradon, Blossom is afraid - afraid for her kingdom, afraid for her safety, and afraid for her prince. She is Ben’s fairy, she has to protect him at all costs; she has to do whatever it takes to make sure that Ben’s first action as king is a success, even if it means saving the VKs from themselves.

Name: Callisto

Story: Where I’m Meant To Be

Parents: Hercules & Megaera

Face claim: Mackenzie Foy

Name: Charity

Story: A Twist In Truth

Parents: redacted

Faceclaim: Sabrina Carpenter

Name: Charlene Charming

Story: Picture Perfect

Parents: Prince Charming & Cinderella

Faceclaim: Halston Sage

Name: Cheryl

Story: Daughter Of The Devil

Parents: Chernabog

Faceclaim: Margaret Qualley

Name: Chiara Potts

Story: Certain As The Sun (Rising In The East)

Parents: Chip Potts & Redacted

Faceclaim: Danielle Rose Russell

Love Interest: Ben & Evie

Summary: Chiara Potts is as far from a princess as you can get - well, unless you ask Cinderella. She’s the daughter of a servant, and the granddaughter of a servant. And she herself is a servant. Granted, they don’t call her that, but Chiara is only the latest in the long line of Potts’ to serve the royal family. Still, despite being his chief of staff and majordomo, Ben is her best friend. And yes, maybe her job is the reason that they’re inseparable, but they still are. So of course, Chiara is the first person to know about his plans to bring Villain Kids to Auradon. She’s also the first person to defend his idea, and the person that he asks to help them settle in. But when Chiara overhears their plans, she has to decide - will she try to change their minds and prove Ben right to all of Auradon, or will she have to go against him - and what will that cost her?

Name: Chryseis

Story: We Could Be Immortals (Just Not For Long)

Parents: Poseison

Faceclaim: Holland Roden

Summary: Poseidon isn’t a hero. He’s a god, yes, but not a hero. His granddaughter Ariel is a hero, his nephew Hercules is a hero, but Poseidon is not a hero. So no one is really sure why his youngest daughter has just started at Auradon Prep, only days after Ben announced the impending arrival of four villain kids. But Chryseis knows. Mal, daughter of Maleficent, is also the daughter of Hades, and the Olympians are afraid. And Chryseis, only sixteen and still learning to be a goddess, is the only person who can find out her intentions, the only person who can stop her from potentially destroying Olympus.

Name: Dakota Smalls

Story: Though She Be But Little (She Is Fierce)

Parents: Doc

Faceclaim: Malina Weissman

Summary: Despite Doug’s warnings, despite knowing that the children of the dwarves weren’t supposed to go to Auradon Prep, Dakota had still held out hope that she would be welcomed with open arms on her first day of high school. But despite wishing on a hundred stars, Dakota’s first day was completely underwhelming. The only person who cared at all about her arrival was Doug, who was like a brother to her. Everyone else made it very clear that they didn’t want her to be there, that her dad wasn’t a hero or a prince and that she didn’t belong. But she had Doug, so everything would be okay. Until her second week of school, when Doug is put in charge of showing the new villain kids around. Now Dakota has a choice to make. Will she learn to be okay with the VKs so that she can stay with the only friend she has, or will she brave her cruel new school alone? And really, that’s no choice at all.

Name: Elise Charming

Story: Enchanted

Parents: Prince Charming & Cinderella

Face claim: Lili Reinhart

Love interest: Evie

Summary: Princess Elizabeth Victoria Isabelle Katherine Grace Regina Alexandria James – more affectionately known as Elise Charming – had been raised on one simple lesson. Have courage and be kind. And for sixteen years, she had lived by those words. Alongside her twin brother Chad and their best friends Ben and Audrey, Elise had been picture perfect royalty. The four of them were perfectly sweet, perfectly charming, perfectly… well, perfectly perfect. But when Ben, weeks away from his coronation, decides to bring over four Villain Kids from the Isle of the Lost, their perfect group falls apart. Elise is sure that they can get through it, that they can hold their heads high and rebuild their perfect friendship, and that everything will be okay. And then the Villain Kids arrive in Auradon, and the most beautiful girl in the world steps out of the limousine.

Name: Faith

Story: The Hands Of Fate

Parents: The Fates

Face claim: Paris Berelc

Name: Finley Rider

Story: Stolen Hearts

Parents: Rapunzel and Flynn Rider

Face claim: Virginia Gardner

Love interest: past Ben; Jay; eventual Ben & Jay

Summary:: Finley Rider – Princess Finley Fitzherbert – was all set to live a fairytale life. She was the heir to the throne of Corona, her parents’ pride and joy, and betrothed to her best friend, Prince Benjamin. But when a ten year old Finley gets bored at a museum gala and decides to see how many artifacts she can lift without getting noticed, everything changes. When the Beast King catches her stealing Jafar’s staff, he loses his temper. The child is sent to the Isle, Corona breaks ties with Auradon, and Ben loses his best friend.

On her first day on the Isle, Finley gets caught stealing a bracelet off of Lady Tremaine. But rather than tell the woman, the boy introduces himself as Jay, son of Jafar, and offers Finley a partnership. Their alliance soon grows into a friendship, and Jay introduces Finley to the other VKs, bringing her into their team. The five of them rule the island with ease, causing trouble wherever they go. It isn’t perfect, but Finley has learned to move on from Corona, and from Auradon. So of course, that’s when Prince Ben makes his first royal proclamation; bringing children of the Isle to Auradon. The daughter of Maleficent, the son of Jafar, the daughter of the Evil Queen, and the son of Cruella De Vil. And the princess of Corona.

Name: Francie Facilier

Story: Shadow Tales

Parents: Dr Facilier

Face claim: Amandla Stenberg

Love interest: Mal

Summary: Why is it that people on the Isle only ever talk about Freddie Facilier? Well according to Freddie, it’s because she’s the superior twin; according to Francie Facillier, it’s because she choses to fade into the shadows from which she came. Francie knows everything about everyone, knows every corner of the Isle, even knows how to get off of it. But even though she’s supposed to be evil, she’s not quite evil enough to force anyone else to listen to the villains lament on their glory days, on when they were the most feared in all the land. Whatever, big deal, who cares? Maybe the Beast-King should have left them all dead. But he didn’t, no way of changing it now, so maybe it’s time for Francie to put all of her knowledge to work and crown herself Queen of the Isle.

Name: Gloria

Story: Mother Knows Best

Parents: Mother Gothel

Face claim: Camila Mendes

Name: Hannah Westergaard

Story: Wish I Were Here

Parents: Hans Westergaard & redacted

Face claim: Kat McNamara

Name: Harley Hook

Story: Lost Girl

Parents: Captain Hook

Face claim: India Eisley

Love interest: Jay; possible endgame Jay & Gil

Summary: Harley Hook was a pirate, through and through. Always at her brother’s side, always with Uma and the crew, always near her beloved Gil, Harley Hook was a pirate. And as a pirate, she absolutely hated Mal’s gang. They thought that they were so much better than anyone, just because of Mal’s mom - big whoop, it’s not like Maleficent could even use magic on the Isle. So yeah, Harley hated the VKs, her loyalty was to the crew, and she was never seen away from Harry or Gil. And then the princeling decides to bring children of some of the worst villains to Auradon: Mal, Evie, Jay, Carlos. And Harley. Harley couldn’t be more furious at being taken away from her crew, or at being sent to Auradon, or at being forced to work with the VKs to get Fairy Godmother’s wand. But she knows that if she wants to get back to the Isle, back to her family, she needs that barrier down as much as they do. She’s just not sure that they can cooperate long enough for that.

Name: Harmony Of Atlantis

Story: Carved Out Of The Sea

Parents: Ariel & Prince Eric

Face claim: Kaya Scodelario

Love interest: Harry Hook

Summary: Princess Harmony was a youngest child’s youngest child, she knew that she would never be anything special. Her mom was Ariel, and her sister Melody had united their parents’ kingdoms. Harmony was nothing in comparison. So Harmony went on her own adventures, swimming as far as she could and discovering the wonders of the world outside of Atlantis. She’d heard of the Isle of the Lost of course, everyone had, but she never planned on finding it. She never planned on swimming through the barrier, or on finding out that she would no longer be able to turn into a mermaid when she did, or on never being able to swim back across. And so, Harmony grew up on the Isle along with the children of the villains. She befriended pirates and princesses and everything in between, and she almost forgot about life in Atlantis. And then the future king summons four of the children of the Isle to Auradon, and Harmony knows that she has to seize her only chance at returning to her home, even if it means leaving behind her partner - in crime and in love - Harry Hook.

Name: Hayden

Story: Dying Is An Art

Parents: Hades & Maleficent

Face claim: Jenny Boyd

Summary: Hayden was raised by Hades, knowing full well who her mother - and sister - was. But Mal doesn’t know about her. So for most of her life, Hayden hid. She hid away in her dad’s cave and had very few friends. And then Prince Ben summons five Villain Kids to Auradon - the son of Jafar, the son of Cruella De Vil, the daughter of the Evil Queen, the daughter of Maleficent, and the daughter of Hades. But only Hayden knows the truth. And now she has to keep her secret, and try to stop her sister and her friends from stealing the wand, but she might have to choose between her two missions.

Name: Helena

Story: Long Live the Queen

Parents: Hades

Face claim: Kimmy Schram

Love interest: Queenie

Summary: Living on the Isle wasn’t easy, but there was something particularly difficult about it for a goddess. Her dad couldn’t be kept on the Isle–they’d tried, no one died anymore, he was allowed to return to the Underworld. But when Helena was born, she was cast away to join the rest of the Villains and their children, forced to fend for herself. Being a goddess had its advantages too, she was able to survive and rise up with no problem. Soon she was the right hand to the newest queen, and hell would freeze before she let anyone take that away from them.

Name: Princess Isabelle

Story: Tale As Old As Time

Parents: Belle & The Beast

Face claim: Danielle Campbell

Love interest: Audrey

Summary: By all rights, Princess Isabelle should be next in line for the throne of Auradon. She was the firstborn child of the king, after all, and much more politically minded than her twin brother. But her father, beast that he was, had no intention of ever letting her take her rightful place as queen. But Belle is her mother’s daughter, and has no intentions of giving up, she just needs a new plan. And then Ben decides to bring children of the Isle to Auradon, and Isabelle finds herself in the perfect position to get exactly what she’s always wanted. If only she can go through with it.

Name: Isadora Darling

Story: Second Star To The Left

Parents: Jane Darling

Face claim: Olivia Holt

Name: Krystal Of Arendelle

Story: More Than Just The Spare

Parents: Anna & Kristoff

Face claim: Willow Shields

Name: Lani

Story: One Foot In The Sea (And One On The Shore)

Parents: Melody

Face claim: Madelaine Petsch

Love interest: Harry Hook

Name: Layla

Story: Ties That Bind

Parents: Jasmine & Aladdin

Face claim: Naomi Scott

Name: Lyssa

Story: One Last Hope

Parents: Hercules & Megaera

Face claim: Vanessa Morgan

Name: Maria Claudine Frollo

Story: Long Live the Queen

Parents: Claude Frollo

Face claim: Abigail Cowen

Love Interest: Harry Hook; possible eventual Harry & Jay

Summary: Maria Frollo hated her father. It wasn’t an uncommon sentiment on the Isle, but it was still true. She hated him. More than she’d ever hated anyone. Lucky for her, she met Queenie and Helena in the marketplace one day and found herself being taken under their wings. She knows that she isn’t tough, not like they all, but if there’s one thing she learned from her father, it was how to rain hellfire down on her enemies.

Name: Myra Frollo

Story: Hellfire

Parents: Claude Frollo

Face claim: Elle Fanning

Name: Noelle of Arendelle

Story: Only Love, Only Hate

Parents: Elsa

Face claim: Kiernan Shipka

Love Interest: Ben

Name: Queenie Hart

Story: Long Live the Queen

Parents: The Queen Of Hearts

Face claim: Darya Lebedeva

Love interest: Helena

Summary: First there was Mal, then there was Uma. Mal defected, turned good; Uma had a martyr complex without the brains to do, well, anything. Now they’re gone, and there’s a new queen in town. Queenie, along with her right hand man Helena, and their loyal supporter Maria, is running the show now. And if anyone crosses her, she knows what to do. Off with their heads.

Name: Rosabelle Legume

Story: The Rose Has Her Thorns

Parents: Gaston Legume

Face claim: Zoey Deutch

Love Interest: Prince Ben; Harry Hook; eventual Ben & Harry

Summary: There were many reasons that Rosabelle Legume didn’t want to go to Auradon: the Beast might have her executed, she didn’t want to leave her big brother, her crew needed her, and she wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Harry or to whatever relationship they had. But there was one very good reason for her to leave: it would get her away from Gaston. So Ro packs her bags and goes to Auradon with Mal and her gang - fine, whatever, she’d help them take down the barrier and everything would be fine. But she wasn’t expecting to need to get close to Prince Ben to do it, and now Rosabelle has an even bigger choice to make. Ben or Harry, Auradon or the Isle, good or evil?

Name: Sonya White

Story: Ties That Bind

Parents: Snow White & Prince Florian

Face claim: Grace Phipps

Name: Taryn Porter

Story: Wild Girl

Parents: Tarzan & Jane Porter

Face claim: Kaylee Bryant

Love Interest: Jay

Summary: Let’s make one thing clear, no one wanted Taryn Porter at Auradon Prep. Well, no one except for Ben, and no one was willing to go against the prince over bringing a civilian to their school. Her dad grew up in a jungle, raised by apes and her mom was a scientist. Taryn absolutely, most definitely, did not belong at Auradon Prep alongside children of princes and princesses. Maybe that’s why, when Ben decides to bring four villain kids to the school, Taryn is the only person who’s genuinely excited about more outcasts joining the student body.

Name: Titania

Story: Two Roads Diverged

Parents: Fairy Godmother

Face claim: Emily Rudd

Name: Trina Tremaine

Story: I’m Still Here

Parents: Lady Tremaine

Face claim: Lana Condor

Name: Violet Kingsleigh

Story: Up The Rabbit Hole

Parents: Alice & The Hatter

Face claim: Meg Donnelly

Summary: Violet Kingsleigh loved growing up in Wonderland, she really did. She loved spending mornings in her aunt’s - the queen’s - gardens; she loved fighting lessons with her parents and reading with Absolem; she loved playing with the Tweedles and hide and seek with Chess; and, of course, she adored her dad’s infamous tea parties. Yes, Violet loved everything about Wonderland. Especially that it wasn’t in Auradon. It was perfect. And then the queen is cursed, and all of Wonderland knows that Auradon is to blame. But they can’t declare war without proof, so suddenly their young princess is being sent to Auradon prep to investigate. Violet knows her mission. Violet is absolutely and entirely focused. Violet is most definitely not prepared for the boy-king to have invited a group of teenagers from the Isle Of The Lost to start school on the same day as her.

Name: Winnie Pan

Story: Where Dreams Are Born

Parents: Wendy Darling & Peter Pan

Face claim: Haley Lu Richardson

Summary: When magic was shut off from Auradon, Neverland was shut away, no one could come or go. Unfortunately for Peter Pan, he was on the wrong side of that barrier. Stuck in Auradon with a fully grown Wendy Darling, he had no choice but to grow up, and in fact the vanishing of the magic that had kept him young didn’t just make him age as normal, it pushed him into immediate adulthood. And with adulthood came children. A daughter, Winnie Pan. Winnie was raised on Peter and Wendy’s stories about Neverland and she had long since fallen in love with it. But it was inaccessible, she’d been told, she could never see it. And as much as she hated it, she understood. Until Prince Ben lets four villain children through their barrier into Auradon. And Winnie has a realization: if one barrier can be taken down, so can the other. And Winnie Pan will follow the second star to the right to the home she should have had, or she’ll die trying.

#ocappreciation #mobile masterlist #randomestfandoms construction

25 notes · View notes

acioo · 4 years

Note

pls post the description for all of the tropes im in LOVE

ur lucky i just sent them to a groupchat i have em ALL. okay under the cut because there’s twenty !

camila mendes as hbic: i suppose this is because of her character in riverdale, but can have you considered ever... making your own character and not stealing someone elses ? if i see another one of these i will legitimately lose it. stop being BORING.

gay stoner harry styles: i'm gonna be SUPER real with you. if you're playing gay stoner harry styles, you're probably an ex larry ( or you're still a larry but in secret ). you're still trying to push that agenda, but really no one wants it. your character probably wears flowery shirts under a leather jacket. sometimes dickish but usually ~soft~ STOP doing harry dirty like this i beg of you. he doesn't deserve this treatment.

jacob elordi is a mean asshole who can't hold a relationship but CAN have a one night stand: so i guess YOU watched euphoria ? we ALL know he looks a lot better with the short haircut than his kissing booth hair but honestly, in terms of Hottest Man there is a better option. like, any other option, actually. if you think he is the pinnacle of attractiveness, you have another thing coming.

ariana grande whos either a bitch or the sweetest: and always bland and intolerable ! maybe... maybe... just don't play ariana grande at all. there's so many fcs with so much more range. every time an ariana grande writes i imagine it in ariana grande's baby voice and i can't deal with it.

tarjei sandvik moe as soft uwu gay: first off, he's not attractive. second off, HE IS MORE THAN ISAK VALTERSEN. also says a lot that people will play him and not IMAN MESKINI. SAYS A LOT. also, isak valtersen is not even soft uwu. he is a SNAKE ( and i like that about him, but IT'S TRUE ).

kat mcnamara / sophie skelton / madelaine petsch / luca hollestale as any canon redhead: ginny weasley or lydia martin or clary fray or rachel elizabeth dare or pamela isley or lily luna potter or kim possible or jean gray or barbara gordon - WHOEVER IT IS, I'M TIRED OF IT. PLEASE DO ANYTHING ELSE. DO A FC WITH NON RED HAIR, IT DOESN'T MATTER. JUST DON'T USE THEM.

super sweet lily james: exhausting. that's all i have to say about this.

badass danielle rose russell: so you watched legacies, huh ? like, she's very cool and very pretty, but she is not the pinnacle of that. usually, some kind of tragic backstory comes with it ( a la hope ) and some powers that are just a bit ridiculously powerful. maybe get some creativity.

dove cameron princess type: you make me SICK. disgusting.

emma mackey as punk edgelord: i understand you saw pink hair and went " ah, yes, " but maybe people are MORE THAN THAT ???? and maybe you SHOULD THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX ??? she's a fun fc. she has sad eyes. do SOMETHING.

15 year old matthew daddario: c'mon, dude. JUST C'MON. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT??? he's a grown adult. a GROWN ADULT. and people always lust after him, WHICH MAKES IT EVEN WEIRDER. he doesn't even look that young, he looks his AGE DEAR GOD.

madeline petsch is mean: kickass sassy madelaine petsch who is exactly cheryl blossom, but for Some Reason, always straight. for some reason. FOR SOME REASON. one day you will pay for your crimes and god will not be so kind.

sensitive kristen froseth: whether you saw sierra burgess, or looking for alaska, or the society doesn't matter. she has The Range. she really does. you just aren't playing it.

lana condor is quirky: i'm also guilty of this i WILL ADMIT IT but maybe... consider a world in which you did not watch to all the boys i loved before. you're knock off is NOT lara jean covey and they never will be.

noah centineo as a dumbass: he is a dumbass, both on and off-screen, so... you got at least THAT one thing right. everything else, however-

funny dad type andy samberg: he is not jake peralta, please get over this. PLEASE. the ONLY acceptable andy samberg fc is when he's used as peter parker in into the spiderverse.

bitchy phoebe tonkin: phoebe tonkin that always has a witty comeback and probably a tragic prom queen by molly kate kestner style background. she's a very fun fc and you ARE RUINING HER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU'RE RUINING HER! !!!!!!! !!!!!!

nina dobrev as either katherine pierce or elena gilbert: nina dobrev is always played EXACTLY like one of her the vampire diaries characters, usually a mix of elena and katherine. the personality is always like loyal sweet best baby girl who is also a Bad Bitch but sensitive deep down. the characters weren't good on the vampire diaries. they won't be good anywhere else, either.

alexa demie is sexual and mean: you said " all latinas are sexual " and it REALLY shows. also, you saw euphoria, probably. it's not only boring, it's honestly fucked up.

tom holland as a nerd: i'm sorry but you will NEVER compare to peter b. parker and that's that. please do not even try.

#answered #rpt #kimtaehyugn

8 notes · View notes

starlight-ascension · 4 years

Note

Top five Curepuz cards based on pictures alone, not abilities

ok, we all know I’m gonna rave for hours about the dress up collection now.

5. Honoka’s white chocolate dress. Her hairstyle looks like it took ages, that’s impressive! There’s also the roses- I counted 17 visible ones, and since that didn’t include her other earring or the back of the dress or anything under the overskirt, she has over TWENTY total roses on her dress! To say nothing of the huge ribbon things on her skirt that make her look like Belle, except Belle’s outfit isn’t nearly as fabulous as this. Honoka’s got golden pearls and the top layer of her skirt reminds me of part of the Sophie Era Evergirl Uniform from the Ever Never Handbook. Not to mention the skirt trim and the part over the cream roses, which looks like frosting and chocolate drizzle and manages to make it look good. You can really tell that Nagisa and Honoka’s 5-stars are meant to be dark chocolate and white chocolate. Look at the parallels with their dresses, too: the identical roses and flowers, the golden pearls, the black lace wrap thing, the web-like piece, the light fabric with the X pattern. And don’t forget the backdrop Honoka has. The fountain, the colourful fairy lights, the starry night sky. All those lights remind me of the Aurora Winter Festival that I go to each year. And the fountain is definitely magical in some way.

4. Hibiki’s piano key dress. Those gloves! The ribbons on her shoes, and the little note clips! The sash with the white edge that looks not quite pearls, not quite ruffles, and with the massive bow at the back with the lace edge and musical note print! An example of how to do prints and patterns right. Same with the hair bows and that skirt, with all the ruffles and lace. Speaking of ruffles, that is one of my favourite sleeve styles out there. And the treble clef earrings, whoa! But the best part is probably the freaking PIANO KEY pattern on her skirt in a dozen shades of pink. What better way to communicate “musical princess”? Don’t forget the background: the rainbow notes in the air, the flowers, the sunny sky and the lake, the CASTLE!! Is she a pop star or a princess? She’s both. She looks like the princess of a magical kingdom, a princess who’s renowned for her singing off the balcony until she wound up putting on shows at royalty events. And what better way to show it off than a dress that combines the best parts of pop star outfits and princess outfits?

3. Miyuki’s flower fairy dress. There’s just something so magical about seeing a girl sitting in a giant flower, surrounded by butterflies and sunshine. (eat your heart out, Cure Felice.) Miyuki looks just like a fairy even without the flowers and storybook, what with the skirt and off-the-shoulder sleeves all made of dozens of flower petals, the huge butterfly over the little flower-shaped gem on her dress, the matching flower belt and necklace and hair accessories, OH GOD THOSE HAIR ACCESSORIES. Several kinds of flowers, accented with golden ribbons that match the gold pearls in the flowers. Not to mention that she’s LITERALLY GLOWING! Look closely at the 5-star, she’s surrounded by glow! It’s like she took the best parts of Blossom, Felice, and Dream, combined them, and dialed them up so much that those 3 look weak. All hail the queen of the fairies!

2. Miki’s sea goddess outfit. I can feel the beach air, smell the saltwater, and hear the sound of crashing waves just by looking at her. The way her dress and hair blow in the wind! The lace skirt! The top part that looks like a massive seashell! The golden pearl sleeves and necklace, that pearl belt with the sea star! Don’t forget the back bow that makes her look as if Princess Serenity turned into a siren enchantress. And her HAIR! The pearls, roses, stars, braids, I can’t handle how gorgeous she is, I’d compare her to a mermaid but no mermaid could ever match up. Miki is the goddess of the oceans, the enchantress queen who has arisen from the water for a stroll across the beach. And she’s got me under her spell.

1. Yukari’s princess attire. LOOK AT HOW BEAUTIFUL SHE IS!!!!! The roses, the pearls, the ruffles and flounces, the flower petals sprinkled on her skirt, the lace! It’s so perfect for her, and it goes amazingly well with Akira’s prince outfit! Not to mention that she’s in an enchanted forest with a palace! This is hands-down the best background for any card in the game. The dozens of glowing floating stars, the white trees that look like they’re made of frosted crystal, the night sky with hundreds of stars, the glowing white palace that looks right out of a Disney princess movie... And, oh yeah, Yukari is also LITERALLY GLOWING. Just like Miyuki, only even more noticeable, she’s surrounded by the heavenly glow of magic. She is the truest legacy princess. I’m just picturing Yukari and Akira in their 5-stars dancing the night away while floating on a trail of glowing stars over the enchanted forest, singing a romantic duet as they get sprinkled with stardust and all the animals of the forest turn to look at the sight.

Honourable mention goes to:

-Akane’s 5-star for its rainbow-and-flower backdrop, the fact that it’s basically made of ruffles, and AKANE WITH HER HAIR DOWN AKANE WITH HER HAIR DOWN

-Setsuna’s black-and-red gothic lace dress, where she’s lounging on the fancy chaise among hundreds of red roses, complete with plush carpet and fancy wallpaper. Also, look closely at her shoes- the red bottoms. Setsuna is wearing Louboutins! Holy crap, where did she manage to get the money to afford that?

-Kurumi’s dress with the roses and the FUR WRAP. The dress is amazing, especially with the mink, but it’s the backdrop that’s the best part. Girl in a princess gown at night standing on a fancy gazebo surrounded by blue roses, string lights, and flower petals! And how the entire town is her backdrop, with the snow on roofs and warm gold glow from inside the houses. It’s just so pretty...

-Aoi’s concert outfit because it’s just so cool. Seeing any precure in a lot of black and working it is pretty cool, but it’s made even cooler with the gold lame and the stars. But the best part is that layered part at the back that looks like a starry night sky. She is the galaxy! Also, the FISHNETS. THE FREAKING FISHNETS

-Yuri’s 5-star because it inspired a fanfic. Rare is the dress that inspires people to write stories.

-any dress up collection outfit that includes a tiara. As if these outfits don’t scream “PRINCESS” enough already.

#this has been me raving about the dress up collection #have you noticed i love roses and pearls

3 notes · View notes

whnvr · 4 years

Text

Brain Drain

Ah yes, hello. It is once again time to drain these brains of mine. A couple of more thoughts on this ‘Morning Pages’ process. Firstly, I’ve decided to take the Artist’s Way wording to heart and think of this as a non-negotiable exercise and, at least for the time being, I am going to do the full 1500 words as a block before I move onto anything else in my day. I’m still going to take the approach of retroactively editing them before I sleep in order to be more formatted, but the main body of text will be done first as, based on yesterday, I think this will focus me far more than spreading the writing out. Secondly, the more I think about it the more experimental I realise this entire process is for me. It’s probably best thought of as a heavily modified and specified version of the ‘Artist’s Way’ approach, as one of the stipulations offered up by Julia Cameron is that these are to be for your eyes and your eyes alone - even then going so far as to suggest that these should be sealed away in an envelope so that even the practitioner does not read them. So in that sense I am both taking a more documentative, methodical approach to the process and I am altering the formula by hosting these in a public forum. I understand that privacy helps to remove any filtering one may do but I also believe that the potential for these to be read comes with its own benefits. To that end this feels like an experiment of being creatively candid in public which is simulatenously exciting and daunting given that it runs so counter to the common approach of creating behind closed doors. I’d love to explore these ideas further as this journal progresses and see how my relationship with creativity changes due to these factors. So, I guess I’ll start by taking the measure of my day, as I am very much enjoying the ‘touching base’ element of these Morning Pages. I definitely feel a lot more blocked than I did yesterday, and it seems as though there’s somewhat of a hump to get over when I do these within the first 500 words or so before I get into a state of flow with it - this was true of yesterday also. Maybe that is one of the possible benefits of this exercise, that 'ramping-up-to-flow’ stage is one I likely experience whenever I sit down to create and the Brain Drain may be a way of me overcoming that before I come to do any of the actual creative work of my day. It seems as though forcing myself to do all 1500 words yesterday put me into the same sort of flow-state I gain from working on a really successful piece of music, and then today I am once again reset back into that familiar place of being 'blocked’, which even now I am slowly working through and unpicking purely by writing these words. Looking back on previous creative work this would seem to make an awful lot of sense. How much more demotivating it is to have to wake up and untease the same blocked feeling each morning on projects that I care deeply about and am heavily invested in than it is to instead get that part of the process out of the way on an off the cuff exercise like Brain Drain each morning. Maybe attempting to ease such a block through the work we care about is where all feelings of 'I’ve lost it’ and 'this project is hard now. Therefore how much better it must be to work through those blocks in a format that we’re not quite so invested in. Even right now there is a part of me that is very much resisting this process. It is an anxiety that masks itself as restlessness and tells me to 'go and watch a film, Aaron. Why put yourself through something so hard?’. As it is the creative enemy I have decided to call this my personal Antagonizer. Other thoughts of the Antagonizer, or the 'me’ that feels uncomfortable and uncreative: - 'Go and make a milkshake Aaron. Don’t do this. It’s 30 degrees outside today. You really need to just cool down.’ - 'Get up and walk around. You really need to release some of this tension that you’re feeling.’ - 'Go and talk to a family member. Telling them about what you want to write would be much easier than simply writing it’. That’s right Antagonizer, I WILL use your criticism in order to help me hit this wordcount. Checkmate. Yesterday has taught me that past this feeling is where enjoyment and flow lie if I can only push through it. I imagine some days will be significantly harder than others, and I imagine that I will even have days where 1500 words won’t begin to scratch the surface of this block, but I would so much rather try to push through this block writing whatever comes to mind over-and-above pushing through this block attempting to create whatever passes for a masterpiece in my world. On to next steps then. I would like to select a new artist to listen to today as I get on with other work. This would also be a good opportunity to show off a little of how I organise my inspiration, despite how embarrassingly over-elaborate it is.

On Spotify I keep a folder of artists who I’m either interest in, inspired by, are important pieces of musical history, examples of current artists who are doing what they do incredibly successfully, or artists that I feel would be generally useful to experience. For each artist, I will create a playlist, and in each playlist, I will save that artist’s entire discography chronologically. I will then slowly work my way through each of the artist’s discographies, deleting what I’ve listened to and categorising songs that jump out to me either in terms of whether I love, like, or dislike them, the emotional qualities that I want to emulate in my own music, or the technical qualities that stand out as exemplary within each song. This allows me to simultaneously build a picture of what my musical tastes are, keep an accurate record of my listening history, and create song palettes for different emotional qualities that I wish to put into my own work.

(Above: the technical qualities of music that I have categorised. This forms up a reference library that I can use to further refine these qualities when I’m working on my own music)Here are the criteria I use to define each of these categories. Idea: the concept behind a piece. Narrative: the story told. Lyrics: how ideas are expressed through words. Mood: the emotionality of a piece. Expression: how ideas are framed and delivered through the articulation of the music. Musicality: the use of harmony, rhythm, and theory to communicate those ideas. Rhythm: the measure, speed, flow, and cadence of a piece. Timbre: the overall texture, tone, and sonic palette of a piece. Structure: the flow of a piece over time. Mix: how the timbre has been arranged as an ensemble. Master: how the piece has been polished. Delivery: the title, artwork, context, presentation, and moving image that contain the piece.

(Above: the emotional qualities of music that I have categorised as a reference library for how artists that I look up to achieve specific emotional qualities in their work). These are decidedly more abstract and are generally more subject to the songs themselves that are being added. For reference, here’s the current list of artists who’s work I want to study, all at various stages of listened to, completed, or not listened to at all: - Labelle - Car Seat Headrest - Snail Mail - Japanese Breakfast - Let’s Eat Grandma - Soccer Mommy - LCD Soundsystem - Big Thief - Have a Nice Life - Beebadoobee - Animanaguchi - 100gecs - Courtney Barnett - Chromonicci - Owsey - Dark Cat - Valentine - SOPHIE - Kamasi Washington - Prince - Aurora - Massive Attack - Haywyre - Maths Time Joy - Counting Crows - Jack Strauber - Blossom Calderone - Goldfrapp - Janelle Monae - Meteorologist - Easyfun - Saint Lewis - Julian Gray - Jade Cicada - Blake Skowron - 92Elm - Maxime - Stereo Cube - Chuck Sutton - Gemi - Queen - Laxcity - Duumu - Oh Wonder - Galamatias - Umru - Underscores - Brockhampton - Fleece - i Monster - Deaton Chris Anthony - Amy Winehouse - The Beatles - Sumthin Sumthin - Radiohead - Flume - Knapsack - Dodie Here are the artists who’s discographies I have completed via this approach: - Sidney Gish - M.I.A - In Love With a Ghost - Bowie - Pink Floyd - Baird - Rudimental - Iglooghost - Madeon - Porter Robinson - 100gecs I use a similar system alongside this over on Pinterest for visual work in order to better inform my visual style and aesthetic sensibilities. Here is how I define my visual observation: Interior & Exterior, the space of dwelling.

Colour, of which idiosyncrasy and primary colours are a main focus.

Tone, subtler than colour. An intangible quality communicated by shifting hues and gradiated layers.

Mood, the way an image feels.

Looks, clothes, & apparel: personal artistic image and identity.

Desolation, a quality not currently present in my own work, but one that I often observe and love within other work, as well as in storytelling and other environments.

Layout, the way things are arranged in relation to one another within a space.

Idea, the concept behind a thing.

Texture, the tactile quality of visual elements.

Form, the shape and bounds of a thing.

Presentation, the context a thing is placed within.

Render, the quality imparted by computer generated imagery.

Type, how words are displayed.

Pattern, the use of repetition.

As you can see, how I define sound and visual art share a fairly common language between them. Anyway, I divert. I’m going to select SOPHIE as the next discography to tear through and I am also going to continue working through the UE4 Beginner learning path, though before either of these I have some university paperwork/admin stuff to finish so I’d best crack on with that. Toodles!

#25.6.2020

1 note · View note